The Campaign in Action:

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting volunteers installing the 800th and final lawn sign in the federal political riding of Calgary-Confederation. Green Party Candidate Natalie Odd and New Democratic Party Candidate Kirk Heuser joined in the festivities.

Have you noticed “We Vote CBC” signs popping up throughout the Comox Valley? Have you wondered why? It’s because aggressive budget cuts by government are slowly moving our National Broadcaster to extinction. And people are concerned.

“The importance of the CBC in providing a window through which we see ourselves cannot be overstated. We live in a vast, sparsely populated land and the CBC is the thread that links us together from coast, to coast to coast.” said a We Vote CBC concert organizer.

Over the years the CBC has been, among other things, instrumental in furthering the careers of many talented musicians. Local performers see the CBC, with its commitment to Canadian arts and culture, as an integral player in the survival of the Canadian identity and as an important factor in keeping Canadians tied together through the media.

Among the performers is Doug Cox, the Artistic Director of Vancouver Island MusicFest. Doug has connections and commitment to the CBC that lie deep and wide. In the mid-90’s he spearheaded the “Save the CBC” event that took place in Vancouver, featuring appearances by such notables as Randy Bachman and Colin James, David Suzuki and Mavor Moore. The concert had a profound impact at the time, stopping the withdrawal of funding from the CBC by the current government. They heard us that time!

Doug was the musical director for the opening ceremonies at the CBC Victoria building. His acoustic version of Jurgen Gothe’s Disc Drive radio show theme song was the first recording produced at CBC Studio One in Vancouver. In his capacity as Producer of Vancouver Island MusicFest, Doug arranged for countless concerts to be recorded with the CBC Vancouver Mobile recording truck, which of course has since been sold.

The fate of the CBC is an issue that will impact all Canadians, whether they realize it or not. Federal candidates for both local ridings have been invited to come and accept the petitions that have been gathered in support of the CBC.

This awareness raising concert takes place on Sunday, October 4th at the K’omox First Nations Band Hall, 3330 Comox Road from 2 to 4:30. The lineup of performers is superb, and the musical styles cover all the bases. No one will be disappointed.

Admission is free – so what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar and come join us on October 4th for a celebration of the CBC! Sign the petition and take home a lawn sign!

CONCERT PROGRAM:

2:00 Welcome and greeting from K’omoks Chief Councillor Rob Everson

Opening comments from ClaudettePreece about the We Vote CBC campaign

2:20 PANEL CONCERT

“Feels Like Home” (CBC connects us within Canada)

Bruce and Judy, Gordie Carter, Al Jossul

2:55 Present petitions to local federal candidates

3:05 CLASSICAL: Helena Jung, solo cello and small ensemble

3:20 Present petitions to local federal candidates

3:30 PANEL CONCERT

“Beyond Our Borders” (CBC connects us to the world, and the world to us)

On Monday, August 3, 2015, at Mile Zero in Victoria this event celebrated the placing of the 800th “We Vote CBC” lawn sign in that city.

Amongst other dignitaries, Sir John A. Macdonald, Emily Carr, and the Raging Grannies were in attendance.

Just as Canada is linked by a ribbon of highway, the start of which is at Mile Zero, so we were once linked by a ribbon of rail, and so we have become linked by a ribbon of airways through our public broadcaster, the CBC.

The We Vote CBC! campaign was overwhelmed by the interest and support for our public broadcaster at the Edmonton Folk Festival. With our lawn signs near the entrance, we met music lovers who shared their enthusiasm for the CBC and concerns for its future. More than 20 petition pages were completed in less than 2 hours. And we left with empty button bags. Great morning. The message–Go where the people are and you will find CBC lovers.

The Free Will Shakespeare Festival in Hawrelak Park was a great place to meet CBC supporters. People in the lineup were coming to us to sign the petition, get bumper stickers, buttons and pamphlets which made our job quite easy and satisfying. Lovely weather and a beautiful setting in one of Edmonton’s nicest parks. We hope to be back there next weekend for the Interstellar Rodeo.

From left to right Peter Schwarzhoff, Liberal, North Island – Powell River, Brenda Sayers, Green Party, North Island – Powell River, Glenn Sollitt, Green Party, Courtenay-Alberni, Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island-Powell River and Gord Johns, NDP Courtenay-Port Alberni. Five candidates from three different parties took petitions and handed out lawn signs.

Five federal candidates from three different parties, came together in a spirit of cooperation on Saturday afternoon, July 11th, to stand behind the campaign initiated by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting in support of our national broadcaster.

All candidates from the four federal parties with seats in the House of Commons were invited to participate.
The local volunteers for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting wish to sincerely thank these stalwart citizens for coming out in less than ideal weather to help further the cause of restoring our national broadcaster and for demonstrating that cooperation among politicians is indeed possible. (Also for allowing us to stay dry while they went out on the street in the rain.)

On Saturday, July 11, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting (Comox Valley contingent) are bringing three federal parties together to work in a spirit of co-operation, manning our “We Vote CBC” booth.

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting will be set up at 4846 Headquarters Road, opposite the entrance to Vancouver Island MusicFest. The candidates will be working together, getting petitions signed and handing out or taking orders for lawn signs.

The “We Vote CBC” campaign is a national initiative designed to bring attention to the dire straits our national broadcaster finds itself in. Invitations were sent to the four federal parties and there were positives responses from three. The Conservative party has not responded.